Glory draw first blood in Distance Derby

Perth Glory FC has sealed three points and its first home win of the season in the second round of the Hyundai A-league against New Zealand rivals Wellington Phoenix at nib Stadium.

The Perth sunshine was out on full display for the disciplined triumph as goals from Diego Castro and Nebosja Marinkovic saw off the Trans-Tasman rivals in one of the biggest home crowds for this fixture.

Chris Harold almost put Glory into the lead after rounding a Wellington defender with his electric pace, crossing in a tantalising ball for Diego Castro from the by-line, who then found himself in a goalmouth scramble with the Wellington defence, who promptly mopped up the danger.

Castro showed why he was the league’s Most Valuable Player last season with a scintillating turn on right back Jacob Tratt, who was left chasing his shadow, reaching the by-line and cutting back for Marinkovic, who could only place his effort wide of the goal.

Harold continued to be a constant menace for Wellington, continually using his pace to outsmart his opponents, finding himself in space to cut back for Marinkovic. He fed Castro into the box first time with the Spaniard firing wide of the post.

The second half saw Glory come racing out of the blocks, as Keogh delivered an inch-perfect ball for Harold to latch onto. The pacey winger was fouled in the box, with referee Daniel Elder having no choice but to give a penalty.

Castro stepped up for spot-kick duty, converting the penalty with confidence and putting Glory into the lead.

Glory found themselves at the penalty spot again when Keogh was brought down in the box by Moss after some brilliant link-up play from Warren, Keogh and Griffiths.

Moss held his ground for long enough to pick the right way that Keogh would send his kick, keeping his side in the “Long Distance Derby”.

The instrumental Harold then sent right-back Risdon onto a marauding run down the right hand side, with the Bunbury born defender, cutting the ball back for Marinkovic, who this time rocketed the ball into the back of the net to double the Glory’s lead.

Krishna had the chance to pull a goal back for the visitors with a header inside the six-yard box but it only forced Reddy with a world-class save.

Perth Glory go into Friday night’s contest against Melbourne City full of confidence after a strong and disciplined display against our long distance rivals.

KEY MOMENTS

First Half

10’ Harold rounds and chips in a ball towards Diego Castro, which results in a goalmouth scramble before wellington relieve the pressure.

14’ Finkler whips in an inswinging cross from a free kick but it’s cleared away.

15’ Resultant corner cleared for another corner

17’ Finkler takes a pop from about 25 yards out but he hooks it well wide.

18’ Rhys Williams makes an errant pass but immediately makes up for it, winning it back with a brilliant sliding interception.

19’ Chris Harold makes a brilliant overlap on Josh Risdon and sends in a dangerous cross but no one can get onto the end of it.

22’ Dino Djulbic makes a superb tackle wide of the Perth Glory box.

23’ Marc Warren makes a scintillating run creating space for Keogh but his shot is blocked by the phoenix defence.

25’ Castro skins the Jacob Tratt on the left and cuts the ball back for Nebo but his shot is driven wide and Harold is unable to divert the ball towards goal.

27’ A great run from Harold on the right sees the glory advance into the wellington box. Harold cuts his ball back for Rostyn, who gets a toe onto Nebo and his pass finds Castro in the box, striking wide of the post.

29’ Krishna drives a low cross but Reddy cuts it out and holds it close.

31’ Keogh wins a free kick in dangerous territory for the visitors. A little bit of push and shove ensures after with Lia.

32’Nebo cross the resultant free kick into the edge of the area for Castro but the ref gets in his way and he scuffs his strike.

36’ Marinkovic’s corner fires into the box and is cleared into the path of Castro but he can only miskick his effort.

38’ Harold sends in another superb cross from the byline in which Castro can only flick on for Keogh but it travels too fast for him to get on the end of. Glen Moss is then forced to make a messy parry of the following cross from Keogh.

41’ Warren delivers an early ball into the feet of Harold who touches it back for Griffiths but his volley is driven wide of the Wellington goal.

42’ Wilson goes into the book after conceding a poor foul from his poor pass seconds prior.

43’ Finkler is on set piece duty again but his cross can only find the palms of Liam Reddy again.

45’ Castro manages to keep the ball in play from a brilliant long ball and his cross finds Harold but he can’t divert it passed the Phoenix keeper.

Second half

45’ Keogh delivers a cross in from the left for Chris Harold but he’s fouled in the box and the referee has no other choice but to give the penalty

47’ GOAL Castro converts his penalty sending Moss the wrong way with a simple finish into the bottom right hand corner.

50’ Harold makes yet another brilliant run, knocking the ball forward and using his speed to nip in front of Rossi who brings down Harold outside the box.

54’ Rostyn finds a bit of space just outside the box but his driven shot can only find the Phoenix keeper at the ready.

56’ Rhys Williams almost sends his header back across goal from Marinkovic’s cross but Moss intercepts.

57’ Rhys with another brilliant interception! He heads the ball back to Reddy from an inviting cross from Barbarouses.

59’ A brilliant ball inside from Warren allows Keogh to give a delightful flick onto Griffiths who then cuts it back for Keogh. He rounds the keeper only for Moss to bring him down and give away a second penalty for the Glory.

60’ Keogh steps up to take the penalty but he hits it straight at Moss.

64’ Reddy makes a top notch save, getting down to parry out Finkler’s strike for a corner.

66’ GOAL Harold AGAIN proving instrumental today as he sends Josh Risdon onto a rampaging run, cutting the ball back for Marinkovic to rocket into the back of the net.

67’ Reddy scrambles to make sure that Barbarouses’ strike from outside the box doesn’t cause any trouble but it sails well wide.

71’ Joseph Mills is brought on for his debut for Marc Warren.

72’ Djulbic makes sure that there’s no trouble from a Wellington cross, clearing the ball for a corner.

76’ Reddy keeps the ball out of his net with an unbelievable save from Krishna’s header.

76’ Jacob Tratt misses a shot inside the box that sails wide of the goal.

77’ Brandon Wilson makes way for Milan Smiljanic, who makes his A-League bow.

82’ Andrew Durante takes a punt from outside the box but it sails into row Z.

82’ Harold decides to strike from the edge of the area but it’s straight down the centre of the goal and into Glen Moss.

83’ Reddy makes another super save from Krishna’s low driven strike.

WHAT THEY SAID: Kenny Lowe

“You've got to give us credit - we played well, we dominated and we deserved the points”.

"We were disciplined, organised and didn't make it easy for them. Do that and you've got half a chance”.